Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint) engaged the community in Plymouth on July 16 during the first in a series of health care town halls. BTL Photos: Kate Opalewski

Progressive Groups Hold Health Care Town Halls

BY BTL STAFF

Michigan citizens have the opportunity to have their questions answered and learn how to protect their health care during various health care town halls across the state hosted by the Michigan Democratic Party and Indivisible Michigan groups.

Republicans in Washington are trying to ram through secretive plans that will rollback protections for pre-existing conditions like diabetes and asthma and cause health and prescription drug costs to skyrocket. But many members of Congress are trying to avoid their constituents and their questions at all costs.

That's why these progressive groups have teamed up to hold forums throughout Michigan, including Kalamazoo, Alpena, Southfield, Saginaw and Marquette. Members of Congress, state legislators and health experts will join the events, where citizens can get their questions answered about Republicans' plans to cut health care.

"Republicans in Washington keep rewriting their plans to cut health care behind closed doors, while refusing to hold town halls or even answer their constituents' concerns. They're not doing their job. That's not the way this should work in our country. Everyone deserves to know how these massive cost increases and cuts to coverage will affect them. We invite everyone to come to our town halls to get their questions answered and learn what they can do to protect health care," said Brandon Dillon, Michigan Democratic Party Chair.

The town halls will also feature discussions about what can be done on the state and federal level to stop them, including the House and Senate Democrats' "Michigan Health Care Bill of Rights," which would help protect families in Michigan from the worst of the cuts coming out of Washington.

"We will never stop fighting against GOP efforts to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions or their plan to allow insurance premiums to skyrocket, especially for seniors. We also need to combat these cuts on the state level. Michigan House and Senate Democrats want to pass a 'Health Care Bill of Rights' to shield families from the worst of these health care cuts. We plan to help them get it done," said Dillon.

Town Halls Scheduled:

Aug. 9

7-9 p.m.

Grand Rapids

Hosted by members of the Kent Democratic Party.

Aug. 19

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Muskegon

Hosted by members of the Muskegon County Democratic Party.

Aug. 20

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Traverse City

Hosted by members of Indivisible District 1 and Leelanau, and State Rep. Christine Greig (D-Farmington Hills).

Aug. 26

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Shriners Silver Garden Event Center

24350 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI 48075

Hosted by members of Indivisible Michigan and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield).

Aug. 27

2-4 p.m.

Clinton-Macomb Public Library

40900 Romeo Plank Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038

Hosted by members of the Northern Macomb and Clinton Township Democratic Parties and Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak).

Sept. 9

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Birmingham Unitarian Church

38651 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Hosted by members of the Oakland Democratic Party.

11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Monroe County

Hosted by members of the Monroe County Democratic Party.

Town halls hosted by members of the Bay County Democratic Party, the Indivisible District 4 and members of the Kalamazoo County Democratic Party are to be determined.